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Monday, October 7, 2013

Resin-based solution to Fukushima water problems

Below is a very interesting press release I received this morning. I think all of us knew that (among many other things) the Fukushima Daiichi accident would lead to new technologies, or useful developments of existing technologies. This announcement seems to herald just that kind of development.-----

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPurolite Corporation develops an ion exchange resin based solution to the Fukushima radioactive water crisisReduces radionuclides to non-detect levels

Bala Cynwyd, PA – October 1, 2013 - Purolite Corporation, a world leader in water treatment and the treatment of radioactive nuclides in high chloride water announced today, that after two years of extensive research and development, it has a solution to the multiple issues surrounding the Fukushima radioactive water crisis. The proprietary process incorporates a total solution to include the four main points identified by TEPCO in its most recent request for proposals. The Purolite solution can be quickly implemented and can achieve the following goals:1. Remove 62 identified radioactive nuclides contained in the Fukushima water to non- detectable status. This was confirmed in tests using actual reactor site contaminated water. 2. Eliminate over 80% of the radioactive sludge versus normal precipitation treatment.3. Eliminate the need for storage tanks for highly radioactive water.4. Reduce the need to build water intrusion walls around the reactors.“Our technical experts worked in cooperation with major Japanese companies over the past two years to develop a unique solution to this complex problem,”said Steve Brodie, President. “Our proprietary technology effectively removes the identified containments and will help solve Fukushima Daiichi’s environmental problems.”The continuous accumulation of radioactive water at the tsunami stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is unprecedented and well documented. Currently there are over 1,000 storage tanks at the reactor site containing over 300,000 cubic meters of highly radioactive water. More and more tanks are being built daily to accommodate the intrusion of about 400 m3/day groundwater into the reactor cooling water loopbecause it remains too toxic to discharge to the environment.About PurolitePurolite Corporation is a leading manufacturer of ion exchange media, catalysts, adsorbents and advanced polymers for life sciences. Headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, PA, the company has ISO-9001 certified manufacturing facilities in the USA, China and Romania and operates dedicated R&D centers in the USA, China, Romania, Russia and the UK. Purolite also has a technical laboratory in Japan. Purolite, the only company focused exclusively on resin technology, has 40 sales offices in more than 30 countries.ContactTo learn more about Purolite, please go to purolite.com or contactJeffrey FrainGlobal Marketing Manager150 Monument Road, Ste. 202Office: (610) 668-9090Fax: (610) 668-8139jeffrey.frain@purolite.com

Presumably this is the active ingredient underpinning the Toshiba ALPS water purification system. Thus far that equipment is suffering teething troubles, but as the operators get comfortable with managing the plant, it should end the Fukushima ground water issue. Do note that the tritium contamination is not removed by this gear, so Japan will still have to decide what to do with the treated water.